Category Archives: Interview

Interview with Chris Li about “Internal Power” training in Martial Arts

Chris Li

Below is an interview that originally appeared on Nick Porter’s The Way You Practice blog. Following the English interview is a translation in Spanish by Juantxo Ruiz. Hey folks! What follows below is an interview with Chris Li, a martial artist who has primarily trained in Aikido. He’s a great resource within the Aikido community regarding the history of the art and a very approachable … Continue reading Interview with Chris Li about “Internal Power” training in Martial Arts »

The Essence of Aiki: an Interview with Seigo Okamoto Soshi – Part 2

Born in 1894 in Kitami, Hokkaido, Kodo Horikawa began Daito Ryu Jujutsu training with Sokaku Takeda at around the same time as Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Sokaku focused on instructing Kodo in “Aiki” because of his size, and Kodo came to be known for techniques that were extremely subtle and soft. In 1930 Kodo received the certificate of “Acting Instructor” or Kyoju Dairi from Takeda … Continue reading The Essence of Aiki: an Interview with Seigo Okamoto Soshi – Part 2 »

The Essence of Aiki: an Interview with Seigo Okamoto Soshi – Part 1

Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu Roppokai Founder Seigo Okamoto was born in 1925 in Yubari City, Hokkaido. In 1963, at the age of 38, he entered the dojo of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu Kodokai Founder Kodo Horikawa, one of Sokaku Takeda’s closest students. In 1974 he received his 7th dan from Kodo Horikawa, and his Shihan license from Kodo Horikawa four years later in 1978. After Horikawa Sensei passed away, he … Continue reading The Essence of Aiki: an Interview with Seigo Okamoto Soshi – Part 1 »

Budoka no Kotae – Talking to Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei

Morihei Ueshiba 1925

Kisshomaru Ueshiba with his father Morihei Ueshiba at Ueshiba Juku in Ayabe around 1925 Kisshomaru Ueshiba was born on June 27, 1921 at the Omoto-kyo compound in Ayabe, where his father Morihei Ueshiba opened his first dojo, the Ueshiba Juku. In 1927 he and his family moved to Tokyo, where his father would open the Kobukan Dojo – which would eventually become Aikikai Hombu Dojo. … Continue reading Budoka no Kotae – Talking to Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei »

Budoka no Kotae – Talking to Morihiro Saito Sensei, Part 3

Morihiro Saito and Morihei Ueshiba in Iwama

Morihiro Saito and Morihei Ueshiba in Iwama “Traditional Aikido – volume 2” While he was working for the former Japan National Railways, Morihiro Saito Sensei lived in the Iwama Dojo compound, taking care of O Sensei and the Aiki Shrine and teaching in the Iwama Dojo. Sensei was devoted to O Sensei and for this I respect him. I often met Saito Sensei when I … Continue reading Budoka no Kotae – Talking to Morihiro Saito Sensei, Part 3 »